MAINTAINING YOUR HOME

June 1, 2018 Comments Off on MAINTAINING YOUR HOME

When faced with the option of doing some home improvement project in our homes, we often find it challenging determining which part of the home to give prior attention. Our home is composed of different parts and can be categorized into the exterior and interior part if the home. This little knowledge can help us determine which part of the home need the most attention either for maintenance or improvement. A house is made up of a lot of different parts that are all related and depend on the other parts. For example, if you have a leak in your roof, it can not only damage your roof, but can cause you to have problems with your ceilings, walls, and your electrical system as well. So, it’s very important that you fix a problem when you detect it.

Exterior Part: When you think of the exterior part of your house, you think of the outside portion of your house. The exterior of your house is made up of five major areas viz the foundation, siding, roofing, windows doors and yard.

Foundation: The foundation of your house supports every other thing in the house, you need to conduct periodic inspection and put in place maintenance measures for your home foundation. Such measures include but no limited to landscaping, drainage and water runoff, Plants should not be planted next to walls of your house. Flowerbeds should be planted several feet from the house. This allows for adequate drainage of the soil and limits the moisture and condensation.

Exterior Wall Routine Maintenance: As part of your inspection, you should include routine maintenance through periodic cleaning, caulking, painting or staining and any simple preventive repair jobs on an as-needed basis. One of the simplest maintenance chores for your walls is to simply hose down your siding and trim to remove dirt and grime. Painting and Staining – If you keep the paint on your house in good condition, the joints and seams well caulked and the wall surfaces clean, you will greatly reduce the chances of wood decay and moisture getting into your house.

Roof and Gutters: The roof and the different parts of the roof, such as the flashing, drains, gutters and downspouts, cannot be ignored year after year.

Interior Part: The interior walls, ceilings and floors of your house form a surface that covers the structural frame, plumbing, electrical system, heating and cooling ducts and other building components that would be unsightly or hazardous.

Sagging Ceilings and Walls: When inspecting your ceiling and walls, first make sure your room is well lit. Then look carefully at your ceilings and walls. Sagging ceilings may be a sign of loose wallboard or plaster and should be inspected more closely. Bowed walls may indicate a weakness in the structural framework.

Stairways: Stairways are areas where accidents frequently occur. Make sure that handrails are securely attached to the walls and extend the length of the stairs.

Bathrooms and Kitchens: Bathrooms and kitchens need extra attention because of the constant presence of moisture.